Spiritual reflections, family, home educating typical and special needs children ~
Dedicated to: Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Unborn.
"Rejoice in hope, persevere in tribulations, be constant in prayer." Romans 12:12
Certe bonum certanem! Fight the good fight!

St Gabriel Windows

Photocopy c. 2013 Jamie Laubacher

Saturday, May 08, 2010

A Beautiful Day for Mary in May

And a beautiful day indeed, as our parish's first communion class will be participating in a procession of flowers, hymns, prayers, praises and crowning of the image of our Blessed Mother, the mother of our Risen Lord and Savior.

"In former times, it was the custom in many countries of Europe and America for Catholics to walk in procession through town on feast days of Mary. They carried flowers, banners, candles and a statue of the Mother of God, decorated and crowned with ribbons and flowers. The children wore the white clothes used for their first communion, confirmation or graduations, sometimes with satin capes. The youngest child often scattered flower petals along the street in front of the statue of the Virgin Mary.
In the United States, the processions were often limited to the parish property or inside the church, and only the students of the parochial school did the marching. In recent years the celebrations have become simpler, so that their purpose to honor the Mother of God during the season of resurrection and life, can be clear.
And so it is, that we at St. Gabriel’s parish, continue this tradition by way of our First Communion class; we welcome everyone here today to pray and sing hymns of praise in honor of the Most Blessed Mother of God, Our Mother, Mary."